Toulouse (AFP)

Stade Toulousain recited a good score on Sunday against Gloucester (35-14) in the European Cup, a victory which ensures the French champion a quarter-final at home against the Irish province of Ulster.

After a semi-final lost to Leinster last season, the quadruple winner of the trophy seems to regain its rank at the top of the European hierarchy.

Toulouse, whose last European crown dates back to 2010, joins Clermont and Racing, the other French clubs qualified for the quarters.

Only small regret: for five additional points which they did not manage to register at the end of the match, the Toulousains do not finish that N.3 of the first phase, all hens combined, and let slip the opportunity to dispute a possible half -final at home.

The opening half of Toulouse and the XV of France, Romain Ntamack scored two tries and signed a class performance, before the Six Nations Tournament which will start with an explosive meeting against England.

-Dupont and Ntamack enter the scene-

"We really enjoyed ourselves, it's good for the confidence and for the home quarter", reacted at the end of the match Romain Ntamack.

"Six wins in six matches, we did not expect it before the start of the competition," said international hooker Julien Marchand.

In their Ernest Wallon stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Toulousains nevertheless missed their start to the match, taking a try from the 4th minute. Shifted by Woodward with a perfectly balanced toe pass, the 18-year-old Welsh winger, Rees-Zammit, stood out, could flatten near the flag.

Ten minutes later, Toulouse returned to 7-7, thanks to Tekori, at the conclusion of a penetrating group.

Then the Toulouse hinge and the France team made admire its potential. A feint of pass, a breakthrough, a crush on Dupont who serves Ntamack, who leaves for the test after a framing-overflow (21st).

Ntamack, again, tore himself away to conclude between the posts an action initiated by a breakthrough by Dupont, which allowed Toulouse to come off 21-7 (34th).

Before halftime, English back Woodward found a breach in the French defense to bring his team back into the match.

Half an hour before the end of the match, Marchand concluded a Toulouse-style movement starting from their 22 meters (28-14), a magnificent attempt which gave fresh air to the men of Hugo Mola.

Baille (63rd) entered the 5th try, concretizing a sequence of several minutes in the English 22 meters.

It was the last time before the Six Nations Tournament that the Toulouse coach could count on his full squad. Nine of its players are summoned to the Blues rally before the Tournament, including four front-line players, the Dupont-Ntamack hinge and the striker Thomas Ramos.

The pillar Dorian Aldegheri, hit in one knee (68), could miss the appointment of the Tournament with the XV of France. And maybe the rest of the season with his club.

© 2020 AFP